MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — A St. Paul woman is facing decades in prison for allegedly hitting two people with her car Thursday night and driving away.
First responders were called to the area of Larpenteur Ave E and Dieter St N Thursday at about 9:20 p.m. There, one victim was found to have "catastrophic injuries", according to the criminal complaint filed against Ashley Couch.
Couch, 34, was charged Friday with second-degree murder without intent and second-degree assault, both with use of a dangerous weapon.
According to the criminal complaint, the situation began earlier that day when the group Couch was with allegedly shot at the group the victims were with. Investigators say no one was injured in that incident, but it led the two groups to agree to a fight that evening at Wakefield Park in Maplewood.
The victims were standing outside a car near the park when the complaint states that Couch plowed into the vehicle and the victims. Snapchat video given to investigators showed the surviving victim being "flown into the air." The other victim is not seen after being struck, and someone is heard yelling she is "on that car still," the complaint said.
Officers said the victim's injuries "appeared to match up with being dragged under a vehicle for an extended distance." According to the complaint, the victim was taken to Regions Hospital and was pronounced dead 20 minutes later.
The car allegedly seen in the video was located in an alleyway in St. Paul with damage, including to the front bumper. The complaint states it appears the driver tried to hide the car as the rear license plate was taken off and trash cans were placed in front of it.
When authorities interviewed Couch, who owns the vehicle, she said she did not intentionally hit anyone and was trying to drive away because the victim's group was talking about weapons and she saw someone holding mace.
Couch will make an initial court appearance on Monday. Her previous criminal record includes felony convictions for drive-by shooting, assault, and terroristic threats. Prosecutors say she is currently on felony probation in Dakota County for check forgery.
